BROMSGROVE Court Leet's annual dinner, hosted by Bailiff Howard Wood, was held at the Golden Cross Hotel.

One hundred guests attended what was one of the longest and most lavish dinners of recent years. A feature was the chef's ceremonial entrance bearing the boar's head, which was sliced and served as a savoury. The floral decorations came direct from Covent Garden and every guest was handed a buttonhole, while an orchestra played background music and black gowned attendants were on hand to serve the guests.

A BLAZE at Ditchford Bank Farm, Hanbury, kept a team of firefighters busy for 20 hours. Some stock was released from pens, but 100 pigs perished and several tons of hay in a barn were destroyed. Water had to be pumped from a stream a quarter of a mile from the farm.

WEST Bromwich Albion star Ronnie Allen presented prizes to 40 members of Garrington's Sports and Social Club, who had been successful in events held throughout the summer. The presentation took place in the new canteen. The sports field, on what had been Newton Farm fields, was used for a variety of sports including soccer, tennis and bowls.

THE Rev Frederick Myhill had been appointed as the new vicar of St Michael's, Cofton Hackett. From 1942 to 45 he had been a Japanese prisoner of war and after his release had spent 17 years in the colony, only returning to Britain last year.